Earth and Water Residence

LEED Canada for Homes Certification

The residence’s design addresses three major challenges:

  • The architectural conciliation of a Mexican inspiration in a Quebec context.
  • The exploration of a prototype house with predefined materials.
  • The objectives of LEED® Canada for Homes certification.

The living spaces cross, overhang and gravitate around the patio, a vast volume where greenery and water are enhanced by the building’s optimal fenestration and orientation. The volumes are carved out to control sunlight and the views, and the lighting is enhanced using the sun rays.

The residence’s main power sources are geothermal and solar thermal collectors. They provide the heating needs of the whole residence and the water for the indoor and outdoor pools. The controlled use of materials combined with technical strategies resulted in exemplary efficiency and an air tightness three times higher than the norm.